2 deg temperature rise affecting lifestyle in Northeast States

The world is talking about the climate change, its adverse effects and how to reverse its effect, meanwhile a new study has suggested that northeastern Indian states aren’t untouched and they have experienced significant temperature rise and climate change as well.

While addressing the Loksabha on Thursday, Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitendra Singh said that nearly 2 degree Celcius temperate has risen in Northeast regions of India severely affecting the environment as well as disrupting the lifestyle of people living there.

The study was conducted by INCCA back in 2010 to evaluate the effect of climate change on four key sectors — agriculture, water, natural ecosystems and biodiversity. In addition, researchers observed the impact over four regions where climate change is most sensitive — the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the coastal area and the northeastern region.

“The report projects rise in temperature in the northeastern region (NER) in the range of 1.8 to 2.1 degrees celsius and increase in the mean annual rainfall in the order of 0.3 percent to 3 percent in 2030s, with respect to the 1970s,” said Singh in written reply to Jagdambika Pal. “Projected increase of night-time temperature may lead to decrease in the production of rice and may affect the nutritional health of the population,” he said.

Man-made activities have vastly affected the environment. Heavy deforestation and increased precipitation events have lead to soil erosion which further risks landslides that affect agriculture (especially tea plantation) apart from killing people and disrupting lifestyle.

Singh said that National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was formed by the government back in 2008 to combat climate change issues. While all the states along with union territories have made State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in accordance with the NAPCC to fight the climate change. He further explained that NAPCC basically focuses on eight mainstream areas — solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, green India, sustainable agriculture and strategic knowledge for climate change.